Type Anatomy 1.0

When reviewing recent typefaces for Typo magazine, we felt a need for lucid
and definite terminology for a typeface anatomy. Terminology which would name
type elements precisely and aid consistency between texts of various authors.
Current Czech typographic literature does not seem sufficient in this respect
and introduces some inconsistencies as well.

Important for this terminology is a division and strict separation of the terms in two main parts.
The first being strokes and the second, finer elements and terminals.
This significantly simplifies the definition, emphasis and later lookups
of the terms. Another advantage of this terminology is the almost-perfect
corespondence between Czech and English terms.

This document was originally created for private purposes, hence
it is not a normative attempt. However, we would be very happy if anybody
finds it useful.

Strokes

The stroke is a typeface element which defines the typeface structure.
We distinguish between straight (vertical, horizontal, diagonal)
and rounded strokes (open, closed). The idea of an instroke
and outstroke comes from a calligraphic origin of the letterforms.
The instroke is an inward stroke of the hand-written letterform,
analogously, the outstroke is an outward stroke.

In order to prevent confusion we use a term arch for rounded parts of letters
such as h, m, n instead of a
term shoulder which is used in typographic terminology for different purposes.

instroke

stem

rounded stroke

outstroke

instroke

rounded stroke

outstroke

instroke

ascender

horizontal stroke

stem

serif bracket

serif bracket

arch

stem

right stem

serif bracket

stem

outstroke

ascender

stem

diagonal stroke = diagonal

diagonal

outstroke

first arch

second arch

stem

middle stem

right stem

rounded stroke

descender

first diagonal

second diagonal

third diagonal

fourth diagonal

first diagonal

second diagonal

Finer elements & terminals

The finer elements are merely defined by their position within the letterform.
The terminals of instrokes and outstrokes are usually named after their form
(bulbous, tear-drop, …). Serifs are considered terminals as well.